Nebraska Postgame Notes

- Today’s victory improved Nebraska to 4-1 on the season and 1-0 in Big Ten Conference play. This marks the fifth straight season Nebraska has started 4-1 or better through five games. The Huskers improved to 8-2-1 all-time against Illinois, including 6-1 in Lincoln. Nebraska won its conference opener for the 36th time in 39 seasons, and won its Homecoming game for the 42nd time in the past 45 games.

- Junior I-back Ameer Abdullah rushed 20 times for a career-high 225 yards and two touchdowns in today’s game. Abdullah’s 200-yard rushing game is the first by a Nebraska player since Taylor Martinez ran for 205 yards on 17 carries at Michigan State last season. Abdullah’s 225 rushing yards are the most by an NU player since Roy Helu Jr. rushed for a school-record 307 yards against Missouri on Oct. 30, 2010.

- The 100-yard rushing day marks Abdullah’s fourth 100-yard rushing game of the 2013 season and the 10th of his Nebraska career. Abdullah increased his career rushing total to 1,977, moving him within 23 yards of becoming the 28th player to record 2,000 career rushing yards.

- Abdullah had a 30-yard run in the first quarter to set up the game’s opening score. He added a 43-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, and an additional 33-yard run in the third quarter. Abdullah now has six runs of at least 30 yards this season.

- Senior receiver Quincy Enunwa became the 22nd player in school history with 1,000 career receiving yards. Enunwa eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark with a 26-yard reception in the first quarter. Enunwa finished the day with four catches for a season-high 80 yards, the most by a Nebraska receiver this season. Enunwa now has 1,065 career receiving yards. The 26-yard reception also moved Enunwa into the top 10 on the NU career receptions list. Enunwa now has 85 career receptions to rank 10th in school history.

- Enunwa caught a three-yard TD pass in the first quarter to give Nebraska a 14-0 lead. The TD catch was Enunwa’s sixth of the season, doubling his career total entering the 2013 campaign.

- Junior receiver Kenny Bell caught four passes for 65 yards, and a 37-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. With his 65 receiving yards today, Bell pushed his career total to 1,579 yards, moving him into the top five on the NU career receiving yardage list. He moved past Niles Paul (1,532 yards) in today’s contest.

- Bell has three touchdown catches this season and 14 in his career. Bell’s 14 touchdown catches put him in a tie for fifth on the NU career TD receptions list. Bell’s last 12 touchdown catches have all covered at least 20 yards.

- Redshirt freshman quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. completed 8-of-13 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Armstrong also rushed for 18 yards in today’s game. Armstrong guided Nebraska to touchdowns on each of his first three drives.

- Nebraska rushed for 335 yards, marking the 16th time in 19 games since the start of the 2012 season that NU has rushed for at least 200 yards. Nebraska posted its 15th 300-yard rushing game in Bo Pelini’s six seasons, including its third this year (Wyoming, South Dakota State).

- Nebraska has scored 30 or more points in 14 of its past 19 games since the start of 2012, including four of five games this season.

- Nebraska forced an Illinois fumble in the first quarter and intercepted one pass on the day. Overall, Nebraska has forced 12 turnovers this season and turned those 12 turnovers into 63 points.

- Nebraska was +1 in turnover margin in today’s game, marking the fifth straight game to start the season that Nebraska has been positive or even in turnover margin.

- Nebraska has intercepted 10 passes in five games this season, after recording 13 interceptions in 14 games last season.

- Nebraska totaled three sacks for 16 yards on the game, marking Nebraska’s third straight game with at least three sacks. Nebraska has 11 sacks in the past three games.

- Nebraska did not punt in the first half, marking the second straight game Nebraska did not have a punt before halftime.

- Redshirt freshman Michael Rose led the Huskers with a career-high 11 tackles in his first career start

- Senior Ciante Evans produced one sack for 11 yards, forced a fumble that was recovered, totaled two TFL’s for 14 yards, had one pass break-up and one QB hurry that led to Jason Ankrah’s third-quarter interception.